Bangalore to Mumbai in 3 days

1.
Posted byjanxxxxxxx(Budding Member 7 posts) 10y
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Hi,I'll be travelling to India for about 3 wks. While I'll be taking it easy for the most part of the trip - weddings and friends' homes - I would like to actually see a bit of India on my own as a traveller without my non-resident Indian friends holding my hand .

So, I'd like to go overland from Bangalore to Mumbai. I'm leaving 19 Dec (so if anyone would like to join me for the trip you're welcome) and I must be in Mumbai by mid-evening of the 22nd.

Any tips on how I should go about it? and what towns/cities you might recommend I stop in for a night or two? I know that a train direct to Mumbai from Bangalore is 24 hours. . .there's no way in hell I want to do that in one go. I've had suggestions of Hospet, Bijapur. Please any advice would be great!

Thanks

2.
Posted bygurdeep101(Budding Member 46 posts) 10y
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hi jae,

i havent travelled too much on that route but i know of a Sikh Temple in Bidar which is a small town near Gulbarga.

Gulbarga is a railway station on the train route from Ba galor to eMumbai

you can book train tickets online through www.irctc.co.in

There are a number of getaways in and around mumbai...u might want to try and visit them too.

have fun

Gurdeep

3.
Posted byjanxxxxxxx(Budding Member 7 posts) 10y
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Thanks Gurdeep. Is it best to book train tickets before hand?

4.
Posted bywouterrr(Travel Guru 3379 posts) 10y
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Quoting jae8301

Thanks Gurdeep. Is it best to book train tickets before hand?

Hi Jae8301. Its best to buy your trainticket a few days ahead to be sure. As a foreigner you have the luck to purchase quoted traintickets. This means that indian railways always reserves seats especially for foreigners. So that means that you have a big chance for a seat if you book one day before. It is not necessary to buy online tickets since you need an adress in India. A visit to the foreign reservation office in Bangalore is as easy as that.

5.
Posted bywouterrr(Travel Guru 3379 posts) 10y
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Concerning the answer on your original question. I think you have three options. Some options require a little detour.

1.Hampi could be a good option. These are the ruins of Vijayanagar and has been one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history. Its a relaxed place where many travellers go to. Hampi is near hospet and well connected by train. You can explore Hampi by hiring bicycle or by just wandering around.

2. Another option is to go straight to Goa. It needs no argument to go here. Its a relaxed and laidback area with white churches, bounty beaches with palmtrees and great beachsite restaurants and bars. You will meet a lot of travellers here who enjoy the laidback atmosphere. The area is best explored by hiring a motorcycle or scooter. You don't need a driving licence to hire one for a few dollars per day (as for the scooter).

3. The last option is a little out of the way but it is possible. This is the buddhist caves of Ajanta situated a little north of Aurangabad (in Maharashtra though). This is a world heritage site with 30 well preserved caves and buddhist paintings. It was forgotten and abandoned until 1819. The caves dates from around 200 BC to AD650.

I hope this helps for you to decide where to go between Bangalore and Mumbai. Good luck!!!

[ Edit: Edited on Dec 11, 2006, at 6:56 AM by wouterrr ]

6.
Posted byjanxxxxxxx(Budding Member 7 posts) 10y
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That's great Wouterrr. I'm already planning to go to Goa, but later on with a friend of mine in Mumbai. Another question for everyone: should I try to fit in more than one stop on this 3-day journey to Mumbai? For example travel to Hospet (Hampi) to Bidar then to Mumbai? Or should I just focus on making one quality stop on the way to break up the (24 hour) trip?

7.
Posted bywouterrr(Travel Guru 3379 posts) 10y
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Quoting jae8301

should I try to fit in more than one stop on this 3-day journey to Mumbai? For example travel to Hospet (Hampi) to Bidar then to Mumbai? Or should I just focus on making one quality stop on the way to break up the (24 hour) trip?

I would definitly go for one quality stop. If you have only three days for your trip between Bangalore and Mumbai you will be travelling a lot (and one stop is already quite tight). Take also some time to rest otherwise it will be exhausting. You always want to do as much as possible (I speak out of experience), but in your case I think that is not fun anymore (to do more then one stop). Cheers.

[ Edit: Edited on Dec 11, 2006, at 10:34 AM by wouterrr ]

8.
Posted bychqttagold(Budding Member 43 posts) 10y
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As Wouterr says its best to make one quality stop,Hampi n Goa are both excellent options,now its upto u to decide whether u wud like to visit the remains of a once glorious empire or visit Goa....

But one thing that i wud tell u abt Goa is,it is going to be packed during that time n it will be good if u can book a hotel before u land in Goa....

by the way i live in bangalore and while u r here if u require any thing in Goa,let me know...i know a few places in Goa as im a frequent visitor(4 to 5 times an year)...but regarding Hampi i should say that im clueless...

cheers,

vicky

9.
Posted bygurdeep101(Budding Member 46 posts) 10y
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i agree with chqttagold & wouterrr. 1 stop would be all you can squeeze in without tirin yourself.

hampi is also a wonderful place to go.

if ur in mumbai early then u could spend time checking out the many getaways around mumbai....howrecommend you give mumbai at least 4 to 5 days

10.
Posted byShrinagesh(Full Member 102 posts) 10y
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The actual travelling time to cover over 1200 kms raildistance between Bangalore and Mumbai is nearly24 hours. If you are travelling to Goa from Bgl, a distance ofover 700 kms. it would take about 15 hours of travel and from there to Mumbai, a distance of about 600 kms takes another12 hours.By road, you will travel through Tumkur, Chitradurga,Hubli,Dharwar,Belgaum,Satara and Pune to reach Mumbai.

You should'nt miss out on Hampi in Karnataka. It is my opinionthat Goa, the fun city, is another replica of a westernised country.Try to visit the OSHO ashram in Pune..as also the Raja KelkarMuseum,Aga Khan Palace,Shaniwar wada in Pune.Pune is quite close to Mumbai.

My only advise is to get closer to Mumbai, atleast a day in advance,lest some bandhs/hartals impede your departure programme .Have a Safe journey and Manage India by anticipation!